A Real Reality Show

The Kids of Courage, a part of Voice of the Martyrs, recently took a trip to Vietnam. This is taken from their website:

Kids of Courage Go Underground in Vietnam

Getting Ready

“I’m afraid of getting kidnapped,” said Shannon, a high school basketball player. Shannon and seven other youth—an Oklahoma “cowboy,” two Australians, a future movie director from Florida, a chocolate-loving cross country runner, a football player, and a Maine college student—were chosen to participate in a Christian reality video to be filmed in Vietnam.

The youth were talking about their concerns while packing and preparing to leave the country. They were very excited about the trip and eager to get started. But none of them had been told details about what to expect in communist Vietnam, a country not known for friendliness toward outsiders who come to share the gospel.

Getting In

The travelers had some close calls with police on their 10-day trip, but thankfully no one was kidnapped! Their adventures began when they landed at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The group’s first task was to smuggle Bibles and Christian books into the country. The books were written in the Hmong language. Vietnamese officials allow Bibles in Vietnam only if they are printed by the government. But the government prints no Bibles in the language of the Hmong people or other tribal groups in Vietnam.
Officials at the airport check visitors’ luggage for forbidden materials. The youth were prepared for the worst but prayed for the best. To their great relief, they were not stopped. “We just waltzed right through,” said Bethany, the cross country runner.

Getting Around

Not everything about the trip was a “waltz,” however. Twice the group had to run from the police. Their translator was bitten by fire ants in the jungle and had a serious allergic reaction. At times they had to change their plans when they realized they were being watched and followed.

But all eight kids stuck it out and allowed God to use them in places they never expected to go. They encouraged teens at a secret Christian youth camp, and they prayed and played with children at a home for lepers. They visited underground (secret) church services and an illegal Bible school.

And everywhere they went they found something they would not have expected: joy. “These people go through the worst things ever and they have real joy,” said Bethany.

Getting Joy

Bryant (the football player), Daniel (the “cowboy”), and Brad and Taani (the Australians) experienced that “real joy” on what Brad called “our 30-hour adventure.”

Brad: We left at 6:30 in the morning. Most of the trip [in a van] was made with the curtains closed and blinds up. We wanted to take every precaution to meet up with these Christians.

Bryant: After 12 hours of driving, we arrived at the house church.

Brad: We arrived at about 7:30 under cover of darkness and we had to sneak in.

Bryant: It was pitch black and we were instructed to practically run straight to the church, without saying a word. Once we got to the door and removed our shoes, we were absolutely mobbed by 300 people.

Daniel: The church was as small as our living room and there were about 300 people in it. They were so happy to see us.

Taani: Everyone was just screaming, “Hallelujah” and reaching out to grab our hands.

Brad: We shared in singing to our God and then we went up to the front to lead them in three songs.

Bryant: We didn’t sound all that great, but no one cared.

Taani: After we sang, we knelt down in a group with them and prayed.

Brad: We were forced to leave after 30 minutes because the police were coming. It is such a reality that police may come any moment to break up a meeting and arrest believers. The thing that blew me away was just how much of an encouragement we were to them. Our presence was something they are going to remember forever. These people had never had a Westerner come to visit them, and we came with Bibles. Only through God’s power and Spirit was it possible to be an encouragement to these people. Seeing how much of an encouragement we were has convicted me to devote my life to serving God’s people.

The kids’ adventures in Vietnam were filmed as part of a reality show called Underground Reality: Vietnam™ released by VOM in the Spring of 2007.

"Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."

~ 1 Corinthians 16:13~

Sometimes when I am in church, I think about what the underground church is like--compared to our church. We don't have to be worried about the police coming, yet we don't have the same passion for God and His Word. Does the Bible really have to be banned for it to become highly desired?

Humility

"Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger." Zephaniah 2:3


We should not become full of pride, but instead-- we should be humble. Why is it so easy to become proud? Why is it that we as humans want and seemingly need attention? Humility is a subject that I find I often need to work on.

Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility.
~Jonathan Edwards~

Humility is the way for us to open communication with the merciful God of heaven. It is far better to pray in a private "room," be unseen by man, and have the approval of God than to give a public display of prayer and have a heart full of pride.

~Anonymous~

My Grandma's Favorite Psalm

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation."

Trusting God COMPLETELY!

One of my friends and I were talking the other day about trusting God... completely. George Muller trusted God completely for his orphanage and when they ran out of food, Mr. Muller prayed over the food (that wasn't there) and coincidentally a milk truck had an accident right in the front of the orphange and gave all the milk to the orphanage. What a coincidence!! :) Oh, how I can learn from that! When I read about some of these missionaries and martyrs that have such faith, it sometimes boggles my mind. Oh, how I wish it would come easily! (But then, I suppose it wouldn't be such an accomplishment :)

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

~Martin Luther King, Jr~

Helicopter

This post is a little late, on account of the fact that I forgot about this picture. Anyway... my youngest brother and I worked on this helicopter one evening during Christmas break -- it took us awhile, but we persevered. :)

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.~

Though None Go With Me

This weekend I saw this REALLY good movie called, "Though none go with me." It is SOoo good! The main character is a young woman growing up in the '50s who commits her life to God. She is tried many times through countless hardships and this causes her to question her faith. (I like it when movies are set in the '50s, because the clothes are generally more modest :)

Karina

With all this attention concentrated on the puppies,
I feel like I should post a picture of my (spoiled :) kitten as well.

Puppies --Two days old!

Okay, here are the pictures of the NINE(!) puppies!! They are all black: five boys, four girls. Sorry that the pictures aren't very good, but, don't worry,

I'll get more next weekend!

Isn't it so amazing at how small they are?!

Just watching the puppies

Dinnertime!

Puppies!

Our dog had NINE puppies!!!! that's right, I said NINE!!!!! I'll post pictures later, probably on Sunday afternoon. We thought that she was only going to have five...but we were wrong, very wrong! Oh, well! In the mean time, we will have a lot of cute labrador puppies!

Extreme Reminder

The following is a devotion from the Voice of the Martyrs devotional book, Extreme Devotions:

Extreme Reminder
Sudan: James Jeda

I thank my God every time I remember you.-- Philippians 1:3

“Collect some wood!” the soldiers snarled. Young James Jeda assumed that the soldiers were about to cook their dinner. Earlier that day, he had watched, horrified, as the radical Muslim soldiers killed his parents and four siblings in Southern Sudan. They spared James only to use him as a worker.

When the fire was well lit, James was surprised and terrified when they suddenly grabbed him, and he tried to flee. But the soldiers were too strong, and soon they had tied his hands and feet. “Good news for you, young one,” said a soldier. “We are going to let you live. But you must join us by becoming a Muslim.” “I cannot become a Muslim,” James said simply. “I am a Christian.” Infuriated by the young boy’s faith, the soldiers picked him up and hurled him into the fire. They packed up their gear and left the area, assuming James would die.Young James didn’t die. He managed to roll out of the fire and find help.Doctors were able to save James’s life, but he will always carry reminders of that day. His body bears skin grafts and scar tissue, and one arm is partially deformed by the burns. In heaven, those scars will be honor bars, a reminder of the day when James Jeda refused to turn his back on Christ.


Most people are suckers for souvenirs. One can hardly make it through the gauntlet of gift shops at an airport or train station without succumbing to the temptation to buy a memento of the trip’s experience. But what is there to remind us of our most significant life experience—our commitment to Christ? Some will look at their paycheck and remember the promotion they declined because they were not willing to compromise their morals. Others, upon seeing a public school classroom, will recall where they first learned what it was like to be persecuted. Still others will see a gravestone of a believer and be reminded of the meaning of commitment. These “souvenirs” are infinitely significant reminders of the price of faith in Jesus Christ.

Pictures

Today it snowed. And it was today, of all days, that I picked to wear a skirt! Not the best idea! Needless to say, I changed after awhile, because I was FREEZING!!! Below are a couple pictures I took during Christmas break. I finally have my cord!!--thanks, Mom!

One of my friends in an 'igloo' that my brothers made.

I am SOOOooo thankful that I grew up on a farm and not in a city--it would make it so much harder to take pictures!

Retirement Benefits

Work for the Lord.

The work is hard, the hours are long,
and the pay is low,
but the retirement benefits are OUT OF THIS WORLD.

~Pass-It-On Card~

A Phenomenal Book

Since I have posted so many quotes from Corrie ten Boom lately, I was wondering...have you read "The Hiding Place?" It is phenomenal book about a Christian family who helps hide Jews during World War II. As a result, they are put in the concentration camps. I re-read it about a year ago (I really should read it again) and the thing that I still remember is being thankful about lice-- I have had that so I was thinking, "How could you possibly be thankful for lice?" As it turns out, the guards wouldn't come into the barracks because of the lice!! The lice was a blessing very much in disguise, but because of it, Corrie and her sister were able to tell the other prisoners about God and His love. If you haven't read this book, please do, it is one that will stick in your mind forever.

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;

You surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

Philippians 4:11

Unfortunately, I don't have my cord to download pictures right now, so I am going to post another quote. But it is so good!!

Often I have heard people say, "How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!" Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. "No, Corrie," said Betsie, "He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him." Corrie concludes, "There is an ocean of God's love available - there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love - whatever the circumstances."

~Corrie Ten Boom

Prayer

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?

~Corrie Ten Boom~

I know that I just posted a quote by Corrie ten Boom, but I thought that this quote was just SO good!

All you need

You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have.

~ Corrie Ten Boom~

Prayer Request

Tomorrow my cousin, Jessica, is leaving for Ecuador, specifically Quito. Just keep her in mind for prayer -- for travel especially. She is going for a semester to learn spanish more fluently. (I'm glad it isn't me going because I am really bad at speaking spanish!)

New Years Resolutions

Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.
~Jonathan Edwards

You know, people are always making (and breaking) New Years resolutions. I think that everyone should strive to make this resolution (and not break it).

A New Years Prayer

May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God's love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

Anonymous